How do you get through a crisis?

Our country has gone through many kinds of crises. Crises that are both man made and considered acts of God. Which in my opinion is a very bad term. Why is it that we call a sad natural catastrophe an “act of God” and when times are good and victorious we credit it to ourselves? Maybe this is something we should think about.

A few days after typhoon Ondoy, I joined the relief operations group of Christ’s Commission Fellowship (CCF) and we rode small boats and visited the far places of the flooded areas in order to distribute relief goods. Guess what I saw? Water that has gone beyond house roofs with people practically staying on top of their roofs yet you still see smiles on their faces.

They say that as a people we are resilient and I think we are. But being resilient alone does not make us strong. We need to evaluate the experience, learn from it and be determined to prevent the same problem from occurring.

This is why this material I got from the Internet really made me laugh. It is entitled: “21 Thoughts to Get You Through Almost Any Crisis.”

Now here is a warning. Do not take this material seriously. This is part sarcasm part plain humor. Following this material will be totally disastrous so take this as something humorous and again, do not take it seriously.

21 Thoughts to get you through almost any crisis:

1. Indecision is the key to flexibility.

2. There is absolutely no substitute for a genuine lack of preparation.

3. Happiness is merely the remission of pain.

4. Nostalgia isn’t what it used to be.

5. The facts, although interesting, are irrelevant.

6. The careful application of terror is also a form of communication.

7. Someone who thinks logically provides a nice contrast to the real world.

8. Things are more like they are today then they have ever been before.

9. Anything worth fighting for is worth fighting dirty for. That’s bad.

10. Everything should be made as simple as possible but no simpler.

11.Friends may come and go, but enemies accumulate. Oh how I believe that.

12. I have seen the truth and it makes no sense.

13. Suicide is the most sincere form of self-criticism. And it’s the biggest cop out too.

14. If you think that there is good in everybody, you haven’t met everybody.

15. All things being equal, fat people use more soap. Now that’s being politically incorrect.

16. If you can smile when things go wrong, you have someone in mind to blame.

17. One-seventh of your life is spent on Monday.

18. By the time you can make ends meet, they move the ends.

19. Not one shred of evidence supports the notion that life is serious.

20. There is always one more imbecile than you counted on.

21. Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig likes it.

Comedienne Lucille Ball says: The secret of staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age.”

Again, do not take this seriously. Of course all form of lying is sinful. But here is the key. When you go through a crisis, pray. Never forget that God is in control. Keep your mind clear and put your trust in God. This is the only part of the material that is serious and truthful.

So learn the lessons.–Francis J. Kong (The Philippine Star)

(Francis Kong will be the lead trainer for the Dr. John Maxwell’s “Developing the Leader Within You” leadership program this January 28-29 at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel. For further inquiries, contact Inspire Leadership Consultancy Inc. 632-6872614 or 09178511115)